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MP Wildlife Conservation Reaches 57 Cheetahs and Vulture Push

Source:freepressjournal ↗

Why It Matters

Extremely relevant for MPPSC State Service Prelims questions concerning Madhya Pradesh's environment, biodiversity, national parks, and specific animal populations like cheetahs and vultures.

Summary

Madhya Pradesh is expanding its wildlife push beyond its famous tiger reserves, reporting significant milestones including a cheetah tally reaching 57 (centered around Kuno National Park) and accelerated progress in vulture conservation.

Key Points

  • Madhya Pradesh has expanded its wildlife conservation initiatives beyond tigers, focusing on a diverse range of fauna.
  • The cheetah population in the state (primarily at Kuno National Park) has reached a tally of 57.
  • Vulture conservation efforts in Madhya Pradesh have also gained significant pace, strengthening biodiversity protection in the state.

Important Terms

Forest Department Madhya Pradesh

The state government wing responsible for managing forests, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and ecological conservation initiatives across Madhya Pradesh.

UPSC context

Relevant for MPPSC Paper III (Environment and Biodiversity conservation policies, state administrative bodies, and wildlife management).

Source
Kuno National Park

A premier protected area situated in the Sheopur and Morena districts of Madhya Pradesh, chosen as the primary site for India's historic Project Cheetah reintroduction program.

UPSC context

Crucial for MPPSC Paper I & III (Geography of MP, National Parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and major conservation projects).

Source

Prelims Trap

The cheetah tally reaching 57 implies all 57 were born in Kuno National Park within a single year.

Aspirants often confuse the total African cheetah count across India or Kuno with births and translocations; MP state tallies specifically track Kuno's resident population.

Static Concepts Connected

Madhya Pradesh Geography and Environment

What are the major national parks and their key fauna in Madhya Pradesh?

  • Kuno National Park: Kuno National Park is famous for the reintroduction of African cheetahs under Project Cheetah.
  • Kanha National Park: Kanha National Park is renowned for the Barasingha (swamp deer), its official mascot.
  • Bandhavgarh National Park: Bandhavgarh National Park has one of the highest densities of Royal Bengal Tigers in India.
Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation MP

What are the major vulture species found in Madhya Pradesh and conservation initiatives?

  • Key Species: MP hosts critical populations of the Indian vulture, White-rumped vulture, and Slender-billed vulture.
  • Diclofenac Ban: The ban on the veterinary painkiller diclofenac remains the primary legal intervention to save vulture populations from renal failure.

Cross-Topic Patterns

  • Project Cheetah + IUCN reintroduction guidelines

    MP's cheetah reintroduction under Project Cheetah connects to India's broader wildlife diplomacy, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reintroduction guidelines, and specialized eco-tourism revenue models in tribal districts.

  • Vulture conservation + veterinary drug regulations

    Vulture conservation programs link directly to the ban on veterinary diclofenac under the Wildlife Protection Act and National Action Plan for Vulture Conservation.

Expect matching questions on MP protected areas, specific species counts, and wildlife sanctuary locations under MPPSC Unit 5 & 7.

Linked PYQs · 1

Linked PYQs · 1

  • 2022MPPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    Which of the following National Parks is the first in India to officially introduce a mascot named "Bhoorsingh the Barasingha"?